Senior government officials charged with fraud

KAMPALA – Two senior officials from the Ministry of local government have been charged with fraud in connection to the theft of millions of Shillings of taxpayers’ money.

Mr Issa Gumonye, the Assistant Commissioner in charge of urban administration, and Ms Prossy Nampijja, a principal Urban Officer were arraigned before the Anticorruption Court at Kololo presided over by Chief Magistrate, Ms Pamela Lamunu Ocaya.

They denied charges of embezzlement, causing financial loss and abuse of office.

Ms Ocaya granted them cash bail of Shs10 million each and ordered them to deposit their passports in court.

“I find the sureties substantial and I will allow the bail application. Each of the six sureties should execute a bond of Shs100 million,” Ms Ocaya ruled.

Mr Gumonye and Ms Nampijja are jointly accused with Mr Ronald Mbala an Urban officer in the same Ministry and Mr Martin Hashaka Ahishakiye, a manager at Mbale based Hayat Guest House.

The Court has issued criminal summons against Mr Mbala and Mr Ahishakiye after they dishonoured the session.

The prosecution alleges that during the financial year 2014/15 in Kampala, while employed as assistant commissioner, Mr Gumonye stole Shs222,951,200, the property of the government of Uganda to which he had access to by virtue of his office.

Mr Issa Gumonye, the Assistant Commissioner in charge of urban administration being escorted to the court cells. (PHOTO/Rachel Agaba)

In an alternate charge, the state alleges that while performing his duties, Mr Gumonye received Shs394,922,200 from the government to travel to various districts in Uganda to undertake routine field inspection and monitoring of government functions which duty he never performed in some districts well knowing or having reason to believe that his omission will cause financial loss of Shs222,951,200.

It is alleged that during the financial year 2014/15, in abuse of their offices, Mr Gumonye, Ms Nampijja and Mr Mbala did not travel to various districts in Uganda to undertake field inspection and monitoring, an act that was prejudicial to the interests of their employer.

The state alleges that Ms Nampijja and Mr Mbala conspired with Mr Gumonye to defraud government when they claimed to have facilitated training at Hayat Guest House in Mbale District whereas not.

It is further alleged that Mr Ahishakiye conspired with Mr Gumonye to defraud government when he claimed to have provided services for training at Hayat Guest House.